Hundreds of Republicans boo Cruz as he refuses to endorse Trump in RNC speech

Ted Cruz became the first speaker at the GOP convention to receive almost universal condemnation from the Republicans, as he ended his speech Wednesday night without endorsing Donald Trump.

The Texas senator, who battled Donald Trump more fiercely than any other Republican hopeful during the primary process, gave a passionate speech extolling conservative virtues and excoriating Hillary Clinton.

But he made only one reference to Trump, when he congratulated him on winning the GOP nomination the night before.

See Cruz's address and the crowd reactions:

23PHOTOS

Ted Cruz speaks at the Republican National Convention

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Ted Cruz speaks at the Republican National Convention

Delegates shout as Ted Cruz speaks during the Republican National Convention at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio on July 20, 2016. The cost of the convention for the Republican Party will run some $64 million. The number of visitors expected in Cleveland is 50,000, including 15,000 journalists and 2,472 delegates (there are also 2,302 alternate delegates.) / AFP / Robyn BECK (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)

Former Republican U.S. presidential candidate Senator Ted Cruz speaks during the third night of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. July 20, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Segar

CLEVELAND, OH - JULY 20: (L-R) Vanessa Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump and Tiffany Trump stand as they listen to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) speak during the third day of the Republican National Convention on July 20, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump received the number of votes needed to secure the party's nomination. An estimated 50,000 people are expected in Cleveland, including hundreds of protesters and members of the media. The four-day Republican National Convention kicked off on July 18. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Delegates hold up signs as Ted Cruz speaks during the Republican National Convention at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio on July 20, 2016.
The cost of the convention for the Republican Party will run some $64 million. The number of visitors expected in Cleveland is 50,000, including 15,000 journalists and 2,472 delegates (there are also 2,302 alternate delegates.)
/ AFP / Robyn BECK (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)

CLEVELAND, OH - JULY 20: Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) delivers a speech on the third day of the Republican National Convention on July 20, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump received the number of votes needed to secure the party's nomination. An estimated 50,000 people are expected in Cleveland, including hundreds of protesters and members of the media. The four-day Republican National Convention kicked off on July 18. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

CLEVELAND, OH - JULY 20: Attendees stand as they listens to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) delivering a speech on the third day of the Republican National Convention on July 20, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump received the number of votes needed to secure the party's nomination. An estimated 50,000 people are expected in Cleveland, including hundreds of protesters and members of the media. The four-day Republican National Convention kicked off on July 18. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Former Republican U.S. presidential candidate Senator Ted Cruz speaks during the third night of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. July 20, 2016. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

CLEVELAND, OH - JULY 20:
People boo Senator Ted Cruz as he addresses the crowd, during the third day of the Republican National Convention on Wednesday, July 20, 2016. (Photo by Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

CLEVELAND, OH - JULY 20: Delegates stand as they listens to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) deliver a speech on the third day of the Republican National Convention on July 20, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump received the number of votes needed to secure the party's nomination. An estimated 50,000 people are expected in Cleveland, including hundreds of protesters and members of the media. The four-day Republican National Convention kicked off on July 18. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

Texas Senator Ted Cruz speaks at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. July 20, 2016. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

Former Republican U.S. presidential candidate Senator Ted Cruz speaks during the third night of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. July 20, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Segar

Former Republican U.S. presidential candidate Senator Ted Cruz speaks during the third night of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. July 20, 2016. REUTERS/Aaron P. Bernstein

UNITED STATES - JULY 20: A woman in the upper seating area yells 'say it' and 'I don't believe you' as Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) speaks at the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio on Wednesday July 20, 2016. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

Texas Senator Ted Cruz waves at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. July 20, 2016. REUTERS/Jim Young

Former Republican U.S. presidential candidate Senator Ted Cruz speaks during the third night of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. July 20, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Segar

Delegates cheer former Republican U.S. presidential candidate Senator Ted Cruz as he speaks during the third night at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. July 20, 2016. REUTERS/Mark Kauzlarich

Former Republican U.S. presidential candidate Senator Ted Cruz speaks during the third night of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. July 20, 2016. REUTERS/Brian Snyder STATES - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS)

Former Republican U.S. presidential candidate Senator Ted Cruz speaks during the third night of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. July 20, 2016. REUTERS/Mark Kauzlarich

US Senetor Ted Cruz speaks on stage at the Republican National Convention at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio on July 20, 2016.
The cost of the convention for the Republican Party will run some $64 million. The number of visitors expected in Cleveland is 50,000, including 15,000 journalists and 2,472 delegates (there are also 2,302 alternate delegates.)
/ AFP / Jim WATSON (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)

Ted Cruz speaks during the Republican National Convention at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio on July 20, 2016.
The cost of the convention for the Republican Party will run some $64 million. The number of visitors expected in Cleveland is 50,000, including 15,000 journalists and 2,472 delegates (there are also 2,302 alternate delegates.)
/ AFP / Robyn BECK (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)

US Senator Ted Cruz of Texas speaks on the third day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, on July 20, 2016. / AFP / Timothy A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)

CLEVELAND, OH - JULY 20: Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) gestures as he walks on stage to deliver a speech on the third day of the Republican National Convention on July 20, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump received the number of votes needed to secure the party's nomination. An estimated 50,000 people are expected in Cleveland, including hundreds of protesters and members of the media. The four-day Republican National Convention kicked off on July 18. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

US Senetor Ted Cruz waves as he arrives on stage at the Republican National Convention at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio on July 20, 2016.
The cost of the convention for the Republican Party will run some $64 million. The number of visitors expected in Cleveland is 50,000, including 15,000 journalists and 2,472 delegates (there are also 2,302 alternate delegates.)
/ AFP / Jim WATSON (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)

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Conservative pundit Laura Ingraham, who spoke earlier in the evening, seemed to criticize Cruz for failing to fully back Trump, calling on "boys with wounded feelings and bruised egos" to pledge to support Trump now.

According to a report on Twitter, Cruz's wife Heidi had to be escorted out by security after the crowd became enraged at her husband.

"We deserve leaders who stand for principle. Unite us all behind shared values. Cast aside anger for love. That is the standard we should expect, from everybody," Cruz said toward the end of his speech, as members of the crowd began to chant at him.

"Stand, and speak, and vote your conscience, vote for candidates up and down the ticket who you trust to defend our freedom and to be faithful to the Constitution," he said, without ever calling on voters in the room and watching at home to cast ballots for Trump.

Check out the social media reaction to the lack of endorsement:

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Social Reactions to Ted Cruz's RNC Speech

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Social Reactions to Ted Cruz's RNC Speech

You want principled? That was principled. Cruz @ #RNCinCLE

Ted Cruz: "Vote your conscience."

Ted cruz career just ended

You see the good and bad of Cruz in this speech. Guts to stand up to Trump at convention, but still so much sleazy rhetoric along the way.

Trump tried to be nice by letting Cruz speak but it was a mistake to not see that speech beforehand. That self serving...#gopconvention